Conveyor roller servicing apparatus

ABSTRACT

A mounting apparatus for a return roller is provided. The mounting apparatus is positioned beneath a return side of a conveyor belt, the return side of the conveyor belt having a near side along one edge of the return side of the conveyor belt and a far side along an opposite edge of the return side of the conveyor belt. The mounting apparatus has a return roller support structure and a return roller supported on the return roller support structure. The return roller support structure is slidable from the mounting apparatus in a direction towards the near side of the return side of the conveyor belt.

This application is a continuation of and takes the benefit under 35U.S.C. §120 of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/752,906 filed on Jan. 29,2013 which in turn is a continuation application and takes the benefitunder 35 U.S.C. §120 of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/964,037 (now U.S.Pat. No. 8,387,781) filed Dec. 9, 2010, which is a continuation-in-partof and takes the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §120 of U.S. application Ser.No. 12/793,933 (now U.S. Pat. No. 8,328,006) filed Jun. 4, 2010, and allof whose entire disclosures are hereby incorporated by reference herein.

The present invention relates to a conveyor roller servicing apparatusand, in particular to an arrangement for servicing the rollers of aconveyor belt, for example, a conveyor belt of the sort often employedfor handling particulate material and the like.

The movement of material in the form of aggregate and particulatematerial has for many years been accomplished through trough-typeconveyors which operate in relatively severe conditions and requireperiodic maintenance for changing and lubricating rollers to preventbelt damage. Typically, the rollers on conveyor belts need to bedisconnected from mounting brackets on opposite sides of the conveyorsupport frame, when it is desired to change or repair the rollers. Thereturn roller, which contacts the underside of the conveyor belt,operates in a hostile environment where the conveyor belt is used inapplications where aggregate and particulate material are conveyed bythe belt. The return roller, of course, operates on the return or dirtyside of the belt and the hostile conditions thereat can involve dirt,abrasive material, and corrosive material, such as salt and moisture,which can affect the bearings of the return roller and cause the returnroller to stop or resist rotating. Hence, changing of the return rolleris required to prevent damage to the belt.

On many conveyor belt systems, access to the mounting brackets for therollers is limited due to the conveyor system being elevated aboveground and a catwalk being located on only one side of the conveyorsystem. Also, space for servicing the conveyor system is normally notavailable on both sides of the conveyor belt system and it would beexpensive to duplicate the catwalk and platforms on both sides of theconveyor system for servicing the rollers. Generally, maintenancepersonnel in order to change or work on the rollers have used safetylanyards or special safety equipment and have had to work out on theframework of a truss to gain access to the far side of the conveyor beltsystem where no catwalk is available. Furthermore, since safetyprocedures and standards have become very strict, it has become moretedious and time consuming to safely gain access to the far side of theconveyor in order to replace or service the conventional roller,especially on elevated conveyor belt systems.

Accordingly, there is a need for a roller arrangement that may beserviced and/or replaced from one side of a conveyor system.

The present arrangement provides a mounting apparatus for rollers on aconveyor system that holds the roller in proper engagement with theconveyor belt, e.g., when the conveyor system is operating under normalconditions. When it is desired or necessary to replace or otherwiseservice the roller, the present arrangement provides an apparatus topermit disengagement of the roller from its normal operating positionand its removal from the conveyor system from one side of the conveyorsystem, e.g., the near side, without the need to access the roller fromthe far side of the conveyor support structure. The present arrangementmaintains the rigid support for the roller in the conveyor belt mountingarrangement while permitting easy removal of the roller from one side ofthe conveyor system.

According to another aspect, a conveyor belt support for a conveyor maycomprise: a mandrel mountable to the far side of the conveyor andextending transversely toward the near side thereof; a member mountableto the mandrel from the near side of the conveyor may slide thereon andmay rotate about the mandrel; and a roller supported by the member,wherein the roller is transverse to the conveyor belt when the member ismounted to the mandrel, wherein rotating the member in a first directionmoves the roller to an operating position for supporting the conveyorbelt and rotating the member in a second direction moves the roller to aposition wherein the member and roller are removable from the supportmandrel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description ofthe preferred embodiments of the present arrangement, and the drawingsfurnished herewith illustrate the present arrangement. The detaileddescription of the preferred embodiment(s) will be more easily andbetter understood when read in conjunction with the FIGURES of theDrawing which include:

FIG. 1 is the perspective view of an example conveyor assembly forconveying material embodying the present arrangement;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the example conveyor assembly ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the left side of theexample conveyor assembly of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the right side of theexample conveyor assembly of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, exploded view of a portion of the exampleconveyor assembly of FIG. 2 showing the return roller structure beingremoved;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the example conveyorassembly of FIG. 5 showing the return roller being removed;

FIG. 7 is a further view of the example return roller and its supportassembly similar to FIG. 5, but showing the return roller completelyremoved from the support shaft;

FIG. 8 is a further view of the example return roller and its supportassembly similar to FIG. 7 but showing the return roller beneath itssupport assembly;

FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of the example return roller of FIG. 8showing the support structure for the return roller in FIG. 8, but withthe return roller structure removed therefrom;

FIG. 10 is a view of the example return roller mounting tubing andbrackets for support of the return roller and retainers for the rollershaft;

FIG. 11 is an exploded side elevational view of the example returnroller mounting tube, bracket and retainer of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a side elevational view of the example mounting bracket whichsupports the free end of the return roller;

FIG. 13 is a top view of the example mounting bracket of FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a side elevational view of the example mounting bracket ofFIG. 12;

FIG. 15 is a view of the example mandrel for supporting the returnroller structure with the mandrel attached to its support bracket;

FIG. 16 is a side elevational view of the example support bracket andmandrel of FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 is a top elevational view of the example bracket and mandrel ofFIG. 15;

FIG. 18 is a an enlarged sectional view of another example conveyorassembly according to the present arrangement, and FIGS. 18A and 18B areleft and right side elevations of the example return roller arrangementof FIG. 18;

FIG. 19 includes views of the support mandrel and its support bracket;

FIG. 20 includes views of an example crank handle for the example rollerof FIG. 18; and

FIG. 21 is an elevation view of an example belt support usable with theexample return roller arrangement of FIG. 1 or 18.

In the Drawing, where an element or feature is shown in more than onedrawing figure, the same alphanumeric designation may be used todesignate such element or feature in each figure, and where a closelyrelated or modified element is shown in a figure, the samealphanumerical designation primed or designated “a” or “b” or the likemay be used to designate the modified element or feature. Similarly,similar elements or features may be designated by like alphanumericdesignations in different figures of the Drawing and with similarnomenclature in the specification. According to common practice, thevarious features of the drawing are not to scale, and the dimensions ofthe various features may be arbitrarily expanded or reduced for clarity;any value stated is given by way of example.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

The present arrangement provides a mounting apparatus for return rollerson a conveyor system 10 that holds the return roller in properengagement with the conveyor belt 11 when the conveyor system 10 isoperating under normal conditions. When it is desired or necessary toreplace or otherwise service the return roller, the present arrangementpermits and facilitates disengagement of the return roller from itsnormal operating position to a servicing position, and removal from theconveyor system 10 from one side of the conveyor belt, e.g., the nearside, without the need to access the return roller from the far side ofthe conveyor system 10. The present arrangement maintains the rigidsupport for the return roller in the conveyor belt mounting arrangementwhile permitting easy removal of the return roller from one side of theconveyor system 10.

Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates an endless conveyorbelt assembly generally designated 10. The endless conveyor beltassembly for illustration, includes an endless troughing conveyor belt11 extending around a head pulley 12 and a tail pulley 13 providing acarry side 11 a and a return side 11 b for the belt, which is supportedby a belt support frame 14. There is provided along the belt supportframe 14, a plurality of belt supports 19 supporting the conveyor belt11 between the head pulley 12 and the tail pulley 13. The conveyor belt11 is designed to transport aggregate or particulate material that isloaded onto the conveyor belt through chute 15 in loading zone 16. Theconveyor belt 11 carries the material away from the loading zone 16 anddischarges the material at the head pulley 12 area. As shown in thesectional view of FIG. 2, the carry run 11 a of the conveyor belt 11 issupported by a series of rollers 19. More specifically, at each beltsupport station 19 along the carry run of the conveyor 10, the conveyorbelt 11 is supported by a central roller 17 and a pair of wing rollers,each designated 18, extending upwardly along the edges of the conveyorbelt 11 to provide a troughing arrangement for the edges of the conveyorbelt 11. The troughing arrangement prevents the aggregate materials fromspilling over the edges of the conveyor belt as the material istransported along the conveyor belt.

Generally, the conveyor belt 11 is formed of a heavy duty material, suchas a fabric made of nylon, polyester, Kevlar®, fiber glass or other suchmaterial, and may be covered in rubber. As noted the marginal sides ofthe belt 11 are canted upwardly to form a trough configurationpreventing heavy aggregate material, such as stones or the like orparticulate material from spilling from the belt. It is also noted that,after the material has settled on the belt from the loading zone 16, itmay not be necessary to maintain the troughing of the belt to thedischarge area. The central and wing roller 17, 18 arrangements aremounted for rotation to formed brackets or stanchions 35 attached to thebelt support frame 14 at intervals along the underside of the belt 11 tophysically support the belt and maintain the desired location of thebelt between the belt supports 19. Each belt support is similarlyconstructed as indicated in FIG. 1.

As shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, a return roller 20 is supported by thebelt support structure frame 14 beneath the central roller and wingrollers 17 and 18, respectively. The rollers 17, 18, 20 may be formed ofsteel or, alternatively, may be formed of an impact absorbing material,such as, rubber, plastic, urethane or a combination of steel and anenergy absorbing material. An energy absorbing material is desired inhigh impact loading applications. Of course, since the belt supports arespaced apart from one another, the belt 11 can deflect to absorb impactforces, thereby reducing damage to the belt.

As previously mentioned, the return roller 20 contacting the return side11 b of the belt 11 in the prior art is generally held or attached tothe belt support frame 14 by brackets at each end of the roller fixed toopposite sides of the belt support structure to support the returnroller. Since the return roller supports the belt on the return side ofthe belt, which has conveyed the aggregate material, it operates in ahostile environment, requiring periodic replacement or servicing of theroller, as the bearings can fail so the roller does not turn and,accordingly, wears the belt. The present apparatus facilitates anarrangement for easily replacing or servicing the return roller 20 fromone side of the conveyor belt system 10.

Referring to FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, the details of the support structure 25for the return rollers 20 is shown. When the need arises to replace orotherwise service roller 20, the return roller structure 25 of thepresent arrangement allows the roller 20 to be disengaged by releasablesupport apparatus 25 from its normal operation position and removed fromthe conveyor system 10 from one side of the conveyor system. Thestructure for holding the return roller 20 in position includes atubular member or hollow shaft 21, which is received and supported on amandrel or shaft 22, as shown more specifically in FIGS. 2, 5 and 7. Themandrel 22 is fixed to a bracket 23, as by welding, and the bracket 23is fixed to the belt support frame 14, preferably by being bolted to thebelt support structure 14. The bracket and mandrel arrangement is shownmore clearly in FIGS. 14-16. Slots are provided in the upper portion ofthe bracket 23 for receiving bolts threaded into or through the beltsupport frame 14. In this manner, the mandrel 21 is held fixed andstationary relative to the belt support frame 14.

As shown most clearly in FIGS. 2, 3, 5 and 7, the return rollerstructure 25 includes the tubular member 21, which slides over and ontothe mandrel shaft 22 until it is adjacent the mounting bracket 23 at thefar side of the conveyor belt structure 10, 14. The return rollerstructure 25 further includes brackets 26 and 27, which are fixed to andextend outwardly from the tubular member 21 to opposite ends of acentral shaft 20 a through the return roller 20. As shown in FIGS. 10and 11, the brackets 26 and 27 are provided with notches 26 a and 27 ato receive the opposite ends of the shaft 20 a through the returnroller. The return roller shaft 20 a is held in the notches 28 a, 29 aby shaft retainers 28 and 29, respectively, which are fixed to thebrackets 26 and 27, as by screws, through the openings, such as opening28 a in retainer 28 mating with an opening 26 b in the bracket 26. Theopenings 28 a and 26 b are adapted to receive a screw to hold the parts26, 28 and 27, 29 together and the shaft 20 a of the return roller 20 inplace. The retainer 29 is arranged similarly to the retainer 28, and isheld to bracket 27 for capturing and holding the opposite end of theshaft 20 a of the return roller 20.

The accessible or free end of the return roller structure 25 issupported by releasable support apparatus generally designated 25 a atthe free end of the mandrel 22. More specifically, the return rollerstructure 25 is supported at its free end in a notch or recess 30 a ofbracket 30, as shown in FIGS. 3, 6 and 9. Bracket 30 is shown mostclearly in FIGS. 11, 12 and 13 and is provided at its top section withslots 31 for receiving screws to fix bracket 30 to the belt supportframe 14, as shown in FIG. 2. As shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 5 and 6, arotatable member shown as a lever or crank 32, is fixed to the free oraccessible end of the tubular member 21 of the return roller structure25. The lever 32 is provided with a handle 33 for rotating the lever andthe return roller structure about the mandrel 22.

In this arrangement, as indicated in FIGS. 5 and 6, the tubular member21 of the return roller structure 25 is slid onto the mandrel 22 withthe return roller 20 being free to pass by bracket 30 and be slid ontoor off of the mandrel 22. When the tubular member 21 is adjacent bracket23, the return roller structure 25 is then rotated into operativeposition, as shown in FIG. 2, to support the under side 11 b of theconveyor belt 11. When the return roller structure is rotated into itsoperative position to support the conveyor belt 11 by the handle 33 onthe lever 32, the lever 32 is locked into position as by a lockingmechanism 34. In the arrangement shown, the locking mechanism includes acap screw 34 passing through opening 32 a in the lever mating withopening 30 b in the bracket 30, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 6. Morespecifically, the cap screw would be threaded into the openings 32 a and30 b for locking the return roller structure 25 fixed to support bracket30 for maintaining the return roller structure 25 in operative positionfor supporting the conveyor belt 11, e.g., with return roller 20supporting the return side 11 b of conveyor belt 11.

When it is desired to remove or service the return roller 20, the capscrew 34 in FIG. 3 would be removed permitting the lever 32 to berotated moving the return roller structure 20, 25 from its operativeposition to be rotated about mandrel 22 to the position shown in FIGS. 5and 6. The return roller structure 25 is then slid off the mandrel 22 asshown in FIG. 5 with the return roller 20 bypassing support bracket 30for complete removal from the mandrel 22, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. Inthis manner, the return roller 20 is permitted to be easily removed fromthe mandrel 22 and to be replaced on the mandrel 22 and be returned toits operative position.

The present arrangement thus provides an effective, efficient and safemanner to service the return roller 20 from one (i.e. a near) side ofthe conveyor belt structure 10, 11, 14, avoiding the necessity foraccess to the return roller support structure from the opposite (far)side of the conveyor belt 11. It will be recognized by those skilled inthe art that changes and modifications can be made to the abovedescribed embodiment without departing from the broad inventive conceptof the arrangement. For example various parts can be fixed together by awide variety of means known to those skilled in the art. It should beunderstood that this arrangement is not limited to the particularembodiment described herein but is intended to include all changes andmodifications that are within the scope and spirit of the invention asset forth in the following claims.

Referring to the drawing, FIGS. 18-21 illustrate an example embodimentincluding various features intended to render the present arrangementmore easily usable in a variety of situations. The function andoperation of this embodiment, e.g., roller support structure 25′,installation and removal thereof, positioning of roller 20, and thelike, is substantially the same as described herein above; severaladditional features are provided. As above, the roller support structureis installable and removable from the near side of conveyor belt 11without the need to access the far side thereof; the “near side” can beeither at the right edge or the left edge of conveyor belt 11 as may beconvenient depending upon the way a particular conveyor system 10 isinstalled at a particular site, most often at the side at which acatwalk, a fixed or movable platform, or another access platform isprovided.

In the enlarged sectional view and elevations of FIGS. 18, 18A and 18B,roller support structure 25′ is illustrated positioning return roller 20in its operative position supporting conveyor belt 11, wherein roller 20is rotatable on its shaft 20 a which is spaced away from tubular member22′ and supported thereon by support brackets 26. The far side end ofrotatable hollow tubular member 21′ slips onto mandrel or shaft 22′which is supported at the far side of conveyor belt 11 by mountingbracket 23′ which is attached to the support frame of conveyor system10. The near side end of tubular member 21′ is supported in slot 30 a ofmounting bracket 30′ which is attached to the support frame 14 ofconveyor system 10.

Return roller shaft 20 a is retained in roller supports 26 by rollershaft retainers 28, 29 so that return roller 20 is replaceable whenroller structure 25′ is removed from mandrel 22′. Retainers 28, 29 aredescribed above.

Near side tubular member support bracket 30′ includes an upper near sidebracket 30′a which may be attached to the support structure 14 ofconveyor system 10 and which supports a lower near side bracket 30′bhaving a notch or slot 30 a into which tubular member 22′ is placed tobe supported thereby. Both near side brackets 30′a, 30′b are verticallysymmetric so as to be usable “universally,” i.e. at either the right orleft edges of conveyor belt 11. Both brackets 30′a, 30′b are “C-shaped”having respective holes therein for receiving fasteners for attachingupper near side bracket 30′a to conveyor system 10 and for attachinglower near side bracket 30′b to upper near side bracket 30′a. Upperbracket 30′a has a pair of mounting tabs 30′t for supporting one end ofa belt support bar 23 s, described below.

Far side mandrel support bracket 23′ includes an upper far side bracket23′a which may be attached to the support structure 14 of conveyorsystem 10 and which supports a lower far side bracket 23′b whichsupports mandrel or shaft 21′. Both far side brackets 23′a, 23′b arevertically symmetric so as to be usable “universally,” i.e. at eitherthe right or left edges of conveyor belt 11. Both far side brackets23′a, 23′b are “C-shaped” having respective holes therein for receivingfasteners for attaching upper far side bracket 23′a to conveyor system10 and for attaching lower far side bracket 23′b to upper far sidebracket 23′a. Upper bracket 23′a has a pair of mounting tabs 30′t forsupporting one end of a belt support bar 23 s, described below.

Referring to FIGS. 18, 18B and 19, lower far side bracket 23′b isattached to upper far side bracket 23′a by a fastener 23 f, e.g.,preferably a bolt and nut or nuts 23 f, which passes through a hole 23 hin each of the flanges of C-shaped bracket 23′b and through acylindrical spacer 23 sp, so that bracket 23′b is rotatable on fastener23 f relative to upper bracket 23′a. For example, nut 32 f may be alocknut or nuts 32 f may be two nuts tightened against each other to bea locknut. Mandrel or shaft 22′ is affixed to bracket 23′b, e.g., as bywelding or fastener, and mandrel 22′ may be pivoted relative to conveyorbelt 11 with corresponding rotation of lower bracket 23′b so as to movemandrel 22′ to a more convenient position for placing tubular member 21′thereon or removing member 21′ therefrom. For example, the near end ofmandrel 22′ may be pivoted away from near side support bracket 30′ toprovide additional clearance for facilitating the sliding of tubularmember 21′ on and off mandrel 22′. With fastener 23 f and spacer 23 sprotatable about an axis generally perpendicular to a plane defined byconveyor belt 11, mandrel 22′ is pivotable in a plane generally parallelto the plane of conveyor belt 11.

Referring to FIGS. 18, 18A and 20, an example crank handle 32′, 33′ forthe example roller of FIG. 18 includes a flat symmetric crank or lever32′ attached at one end to tubular member 21′, e.g., as by welding, andhaving a handle 33′ extending from near an opposite end thereof. Handle33′ may be moved for using the leverage provided by crank 32′ for movingroller 20 to its operative position supporting conveyor belt 11 and outof its operative position to a servicing position wherein tubular member21′ may be installed and removed from mandrel 22′, similarly to thatdescribed above. In addition, handle 33′ has at least one set ofopposing flats thereon providing for the placing of a wrench thereon forincreasing the force that can be applied via crank 32′ for moving roller20 into and out of its operative position.

Crank 32′ is preferably symmetric about an axis passing through handle33′ and member 21′ so that it is a “universal” crank lever or handle,i.e. one that can be utilized with a right handed bracket 30, with aleft handed bracket 30 and with “universal” bracket 30′ in either aright hand or left hand installation. One of the pair of positioningfeatures 32 p, e.g., indentations 32 p, comes proximate to a pin 30 p inuniversal bracket 30′a when handle 32′, 33′ is moved to a positionwherein roller 20 is in its operative position supporting conveyor belt11, thereby to provide a handle stop. In that handle stop position, oneof holes 32 h is aligned with a corresponding hole in upper bracket 30′aand a locking pin 32 a, locking bolt 32 a, or other member 32 a can beplaced through hole 32 h into bracket 30′a thereby to provide a lockingmechanism. A quick release locking pin 32 a is preferred because it canbe inserted and removed to lock handle 32′ in place without use of atool. A lanyard or other retainer 32 r may be provided so that pin 32 ais retained when it is not inserted through a hole 32 h into bracket 30′and so is not easily lost.

In addition, tubular member 21′ may be provided with a transverse handle21 h, sometimes called a roller engaging rod, that preferably is longerthan is crank 32′ for facilitating the application of additionalrotational force for moving roller 20 into and out of its operativeposition supporting conveyor belt 11. Handle 21 h or engaging rod 21 hpreferably is slidable in a transverse hole through member 21′ and hasenlarged ends for being retained in that hole in member 21′, for ease ofuse, similarly to the handle of a vise or clamp.

Referring to FIGS. 18, 18B and 21, an example belt support bar 230usable with the example return roller arrangement 25′ may be providedfor supporting conveyor belt 11 when roller 20 is moved from itsoperative position supporting conveyor belt 11. There is normally noproblem of the conveyor belt 11 rubbing on belt support bar 230 becausenormal safety procedures, as well as common sense, require that conveyorsystem 10 be shut down, i.e. that belt 11 be stopped, when servicingelements of conveyor system 10 that are close to moving conveyor belt11.

Belt support bar 230 is supported at its respective ends by fasteners 23f through holes 230 h attaching belt support bar 230 to the appropriaterespective tabs 23 t, 30 t of brackets 23′, 30′. Belt support bar 230 ispreferably located at the side of brackets 23′, 30′ from which belt 11travels towards roller 20, and is preferably positioned a smalldistance, e.g., about one-quarter inch below conveyor belt 11 whenroller 20 is in its operative position, so as to provide protectionagainst a worker's finger or hand being pinched between roller 20 andbelt 11, e.g., providing a pinch point guard. Belt support bar 230 thussupports belt 11 only a small distance below its normal operatinglocation, thereby reducing the force needed to move roller 20 intoand/or out of its operative position, because roller 20 only needs tolift belt 11 a small distance.

A conveyor assembly 10 may comprise: a continuous conveyor belt 11extending about a head pulley 12 and a tail pulley 13 to have a carryside 11 a and a return side 11 b for the belt 11, wherein the conveyorassembly 10 has a loading zone 16 where material is loaded onto thecarry side 11 a of the belt 11 and a transport zone between the loadingzone 16 and the head pulley 12; a plurality of conveyor belt supports 19positioned along the length of the belt 11 for supporting carry andreturn sides 11 a, 11 b of the conveyor belt 11, the conveyor beltsupport 25 may comprise: a return roller structure 25 extending acrossthe width of the belt 11 and supported by a belt support on one side ofthe conveyor assembly 10; a return roller 20 on the return rollerstructure 25; a releasable support apparatus 25 a adapted to support theother side of the return roller structure 25 on the opposite side of theconveyor assembly 10, whereby upon release of the releasable supportapparatus 25 a, the return roller structure 25 can be removed from theopposite side of the conveyor assembly 10. The belt support 19 mayinclude a shaft 22 supported by the belt support 19 on the one side ofthe conveyor assembly 10 and extending to the opposite side of theconveyor assembly 10, the shaft 22 being adapted to slidably receive thereturn roller structure 25 a from the opposite side of the conveyorassembly 10. The return roller support 25 a may include a tubular member21 adapted to be received on the shaft 22. The releasable supportapparatus 25 a may include a holding bracket 30 having a recess 30 aadapted to have the return roller structure 25 a pass through the recess30 a onto the shaft 22 for supporting the end of the return rollerstructure 25 a, when the return roller 20 is moved into operativeposition to support the return side 11 b of the belt 11. The releasablesupport apparatus 25 a may further include a rotatable member 21 forrotating the return roller structure 25 a to have the return roller 20in operative position and a locking mechanism 34 for releasing holdingthe rotatable member 21 to the holding bracket 30, whereby when thelocking mechanism 34 is released and the rotatable member 21 is rotated,the return roller structure 25 a can be removed from the opposite sideof the conveyor assembly 11. The belt support 19, 23′ and the holdingbracket 30, 30′ may be a universal belt support 19, 23′ and a universalholding bracket 30, 30′, each thereby being mountable one on a left sideand the other on a right side of the conveyor assembly 10; or the shaft22, 22′ supported by the belt support 19, 23′ may be pivotable generallyparallel to the conveyor belt 11; or a belt support bar 230 may bepositioned between the belt support 19, 23′ and the holding bracket 30,30′ to support the conveyor belt 11 when the return roller 20 is not inthe operative position; or the tubular member 21, 21′ may include anengaging rod 21 h slidable in a transverse hole through the tubularmember 21, 21′; or the rotatable member 21, 21′ may include a handle 33,33′ having flats 33 f thereon; or the locking mechanism 34 may include aquick release pin 32 a; or any combination of any or all of theforegoing.

For a conveyor 10 comprising a continuous conveyor belt 11 extendingabout a head pulley 12 and a tail pulley 13 to have a carry side 11 aand a return side 11 b, the conveyor 10 having a near side near one edgeof the conveyor belt 11 and a far side near an opposite edge of theconveyor belt 11, a conveyor belt support 19, 25, 25′ may comprise: asupport mandrel 22, 22′ mountable to the far side of the conveyor 10 andextending transversely toward the near side thereof; a rotatable member21, 21′ slidably and rotatably mountable to the support mandrel 22, 22′from the near side of the conveyor 10 for sliding thereon in a directiontransverse to the conveyor belt 11 and for rotating about the supportmandrel 22, 22′; and a roller 20 rotatable on a roller shaft 20 a andsupported by the rotatable member 21, 21′, wherein the roller 20 istransverse to the conveyor belt 11 when the rotatable member 21, 21′ ismounted to the support mandrel 22, 22′; wherein rotating the rotatablemember 21, 21′ in a first direction relative to the support mandrel 22,22′ moves the roller 20 to an operating position for supporting theconveyor belt 11 and rotating the rotatable member 21, 21′ in a seconddirection relative to the support mandrel 22, 22′ moves the roller 20away from the operating position to a position wherein the rotatablemember 21, 21′ with the roller 20 thereon is slidably removable from thesupport mandrel 22, 22′. The rotatable member 21, 21′, may be a hollowmember 21, 21′ that slides onto the support mandrel 22, 22′ forproviding the slidable and rotatable mounting. The rotatable member 21,21′ may include brackets 26 extending therefrom for supporting theroller shaft 20 a. Roller shaft 20 a may be retained to the brackets 26by locking retainers 28, 29. The rotatable member 21, 21′ may include: acrank 32, 32′ for rotating the rotatable member 21, 21′; or an engagingrod 21 h slidable in a transverse hole through the rotatable member 21,21′ for rotating the rotatable member 21, 21; or a crank 32, 32′ and anengaging rod 21 h for rotating the rotatable member 21, 21′. The crank32, 32′ may include: a lever 32, 32′ and a handle 33, 33; or a lever 32,32′ and a handle 33, 33′ having flats 33 f thereon. The crank 32, 32′may have a positioning feature 32 p defining a locking position; or mayhave an opening 30 b, 32 h for receiving a locking device 34, 32 atherein; or may have an opening 30 b, 32 h for receiving a quick releaselocking pin 32 a therein; or may be symmetric for being usable in aright handed installation and in a left handed installation; or anycombination of the foregoing. The conveyor belt support 19, 25, 25′ mayfurther comprise a bracket 23, 23′ attachable to a conveyor frame 14 atthe far side of the conveyor 10 for supporting the support mandrel 22,22′ transversely to the conveyor belt 11. The bracket 23, 23′ maypivotably support the support mandrel 22, 22′ wherein the supportmandrel 22, 22′ is pivotable generally parallel to the conveyor belt 11;or may be universal for being usable in a right handed installation andin a left handed installation; or may pivotably support the supportmandrel 22, 22′ wherein the support mandrel 22, 22′ is pivotablegenerally parallel to the conveyor belt 11 and the bracket 23, 23′ isuniversal for being usable in a right handed installation and in a lefthanded installation. The conveyor belt support 19, 25, 25′ may furthercomprise a bracket 30, 30′ attached to a conveyor frame 14 at the nearside of the conveyor 10 and having a notch 30 a for receiving therotatable member 21, 21′ therein. The bracket 30, 30′ may have a hole 30b, 30 h for receiving a locking device 34, 32 a for locking therotatable member 22, 22′ in a position with the roller 20 in theoperating position; or may be universal for being usable in a righthanded installation and in a left handed installation; or may have ahole 30 b, 32 a for receiving a locking device 34, 32 a for locking therotatable member 22, 22′ in a position with the roller 20 in theoperating position and the bracket 30, 30′ may be universal for beingusable in a right handed installation and in a left handed installation.The conveyor belt support 19, 25, 25′ may further comprise a beltsupport bar 230 positioned to support the conveyor belt 11 when theroller 20 is not in the operating position.

A conveyor belt support 19, 25, 25′ for a conveyor 10 comprising acontinuous conveyor belt 11 extending about a head pulley 12 and a tailpulley 13 to have a carry side 11 a and a return side 11 b, the conveyor10 having a near side near one edge of the conveyor belt 11 and a farside near an opposite edge of the conveyor belt 11, the conveyor beltsupport 19, 25, 25′ may comprise: a support mandrel 22, 22′ mountable tothe far side of the conveyor 10 and extending transversely toward thenear side thereof, wherein the support mandrel 22, 22′ is attached to aconveyor frame 14 at the far side of the conveyor 10 for supporting thesupport mandrel 22, 22′ transversely to the conveyor belt 11; a hollowmember 21, 21′ slidably and rotatably mountable to the support mandrel22, 22′ from the near side of the conveyor 10 for sliding thereon in adirection transverse to the conveyor belt 11 and for rotating about thesupport mandrel 22, 22; a crank 32, 32′ attached to the hollow member21, 21′ for rotating the hollow member 21, 21′ about the support mandrel22, 22; and a roller 20 rotatable on a roller shaft 20 a and supportedby the hollow member 21, 21′, wherein the roller 20 is transverse to theconveyor belt 11 when the hollow member 21, 21′ is mounted to thesupport mandrel 22, 22; wherein moving the crank 32, 32′ to rotate thehollow member 21, 21′ in a first direction relative to the supportmandrel 22, 22′ moves the roller 20 to an operating position forsupporting the conveyor belt 11 and rotating the crank 32, 32′ to rotatethe hollow member 21, 21′ in a second direction relative to the supportmandrel 22, 22′ moves the roller 20 away from the operating position toa position wherein the hollow member 21, 21′ with the roller 20 thereonis slidably removable from the support mandrel 22, 22′. The hollowmember 21, 21′ may be a tubular member 21, 21′ that slides onto thesupport mandrel 22, 22′ for providing the slidable and rotatablemounting. The hollow member 21, 21′ may include: brackets 26 extendingfrom the hollow member 21, 21′ for supporting the roller shaft 20 a; oran engaging rod 21 h slidable in a transverse hole through the hollowmember 21, 21′ for rotating the hollow member 21, 21; or brackets 26extending from the hollow member 21, 21′ for supporting the roller shaft20 a and an engaging rod 21 h slidable in a hole through the hollowmember 21, 21′ for rotating the hollow member 21, 21′. The roller shaft20 a may be retained to the brackets 26 by locking retainers 28, 29. Thecrank 32, 32′ may include: a lever 32, 32′ and a handle 33, 33; or alever 32, 32′ and a handle 33, 33′ having flats 33 f thereon. The crank32, 32′ may have a positioning feature 32 p defining a locking position;or may have an opening 32 h for receiving a locking device 34, 32 atherein; or the crank 32, 32′ may have an opening 32 h for receiving aquick release locking pin 32 a therein; or the crank 32, 32′ may besymmetric for being usable in a right handed installation and in a lefthanded installation; or any combination of the foregoing. The conveyorbelt support 19, 25, 25′ may further comprise a bracket 23, 23′attachable to a conveyor frame 14 at the far side of the conveyor 10 forsupporting the support mandrel 22, 22′ transversely to the conveyor belt11. The bracket 23, 23′ may pivotably support the support mandrel 22,22′ wherein the support mandrel 22, 22′ is pivotable generally parallelto the conveyor belt 11; Or may be universal for being usable in a righthanded installation and in a left handed installation; or may pivotablysupport the support mandrel 22, 22′ wherein the support mandrel 22, 22′is pivotable generally parallel to the conveyor belt 11 and may beuniversal for being usable in a right handed installation and in a lefthanded installation. The conveyor belt support 19, 25, 25′ may furthercomprise a bracket 30, 30′ attached to the conveyor frame 14 at the nearside of the conveyor 10 and may have a notch 30 a for receiving thehollow member 21, 21′ therein. The conveyor belt support 19, 25, 25′ mayfurther comprise a belt support bar 230 positioned to support theconveyor belt 11 when the roller 20 is not in the operating position.

As used herein, the term “about” means that dimensions, sizes,formulations, parameters, shapes and other quantities andcharacteristics are not and need not be exact, but may be approximateand/or larger or smaller, as desired, reflecting tolerances, conversionfactors, rounding off, measurement error and the like, and other factorsknown to those of skill in the art. In general, a dimension, size,formulation, parameter, shape or other quantity or characteristic is“about” or “approximate” whether or not expressly stated to be such. Itis noted that embodiments of very different sizes, shapes and dimensionsmay employ the described arrangements.

Although terms such as “up,” “down,” “left,” “right,” “front,” “rear,”“side,” “top,” “bottom,” “forward,” “backward,” “under” and/or “over,”may be used herein as a convenience in describing one or moreembodiments and/or uses of the present arrangement, the articlesdescribed may be positioned in any desired orientation and/or may beutilized in any desired position and/or orientation. Such terms ofposition and/or orientation should be understood as being forconvenience only, and not as limiting of the invention as claimed.

While the present invention has been described in terms of the foregoingexample embodiments, variations within the scope and spirit of thepresent invention as defined by the claims following will be apparent tothose skilled in the art. For example, while features such as a beltsupport bar 230, a pivotable mandrel 22′, an engaging rod 21 h,universal brackets 23′, 30′, universal handle 32′, handle flats 33 f,are described in relation to the embodiment of FIGS. 18-21, some or allof such features may be employed in the embodiment of FIGS. 2-17, as maybe desired in a particular instance.

Although roller support structure 25, 25′ is described in terms of anexample conveyor system 10 wherein the roller is a return rollersupporting the return side of conveyor belt 11, roller support structure25, 25′ could be located between the carry and return sides of conveyorbelt 11 so as to support a roller that supports the carry side ofconveyor belt 11. While roller 20 is illustrated as being generallycylindrical, it can be barrel shaped or otherwise non-cylindrical.

While bracket 23′b is shown as being pivotable relative to bracket 23′a,bracket 23′b could be fixed to bracket 23′a and mandrel 22′ could itselfpivot relative to bracket 23′, e.g., by being affixed to spacer 23 spwhich is rotatable on fastener 23 f. In such case, bracket 23′b could bereversed so that spacer 23 sp is exposed towards conveyor belt 11 orbracket 23′b could have a slot therein through which mandrel 22′ passesto attach to spacer 23 sp.

Crank 32, 32′ may be sized to space handle 33, 33′ away from tubularmember 21, 21′ about the same distance as roller support shaft 20 a isspaced away therefrom as illustrated, or may be sized to provide agreater spacing away of handle 33, 33′ where additional leverage isdesired for placing or removing roller 20 from its operative position ormay be sized to provide lesser spacing away of handle 33, 33′.

Finally, numerical values stated are typical or example values, are notlimiting values, and do not preclude substantially larger and/orsubstantially smaller values. Values in any given embodiment may besubstantially larger and/or may be substantially smaller than theexample or typical values stated.

What is claimed is:
 1. A return side conveyor belt support for aconveyor comprising: a continuous conveyor belt extending about a headpulley and a tail pulley to have a carry side and a return side, theconveyor having a near side near one edge of the conveyor belt and a farside near an opposite edge of the conveyor belt, a return side conveyorbelt support comprising: a support mountable to the far side of theconveyor and extending transversely toward the near side thereof; amember slidably mountable to said support from the near side of theconveyor for sliding thereon in a direction transverse to the conveyorbelt; a return roller supported by said member, wherein said returnroller is transverse to the conveyor belt when the member is mounted tosaid support; wherein rotating said support in a first direction movessaid return roller to an operating position for supporting the conveyorbelt and rotating said member in a second direction moves said returnroller away from the operating position to a position wherein saidmember with said return roller thereon is slidably removable from saidsupport.
 2. The return side conveyor belt support of claim 1 whereinsaid member is a hollow member that slides onto said support mandrel forproviding the slidable and rotatable mounting.
 3. The return sideconveyor belt support of claim 1 wherein said member includes bracketsextending therefrom for supporting said return roller shaft.
 4. Thereturn side conveyor belt support of claim 3 wherein said return rollershaft is retained to said brackets by locking retainers.
 5. The returnside conveyor belt support of claim 1 wherein said member includes acrank for rotating said member.
 6. The return side conveyor belt supportof claim 5 wherein said crank includes a lever and a handle.
 7. Thereturn side conveyor belt support of claim 1 further comprising abracket attached to a conveyor frame at the far side of the conveyor forsupporting said support transversely to the conveyor belt.
 8. The returnside conveyor belt support of claim 1 further comprising a bracketattached to a conveyor frame at the near side of the conveyor and havinga notch for receiving said member therein.